Councillor to fight Makana court bid to demolish mall

A COUNCILLOR who built a R15-million shopping mall in Grahamstown without approved plans has vowed to fight the Makana Municipality’s application for a court order to demolish the building.

Mayoral committee member and councillor Piryawaden “Pierre” Ranchhod, of Bril Properties CC, said he and his partners had done everything in their power to ensure they complied with municipal regulations but that the municipality had ignored them.

“It is obvious that we will see them in court. I feel sorry for the ratepayers of Makana because this will cost them,” Ranchhod, who is also a well-known businessman in the city, said.

He has been a councillor for two terms and is chairman of the budget and treasury portfolio committee.

Makhanda Mall in Beaufort Street has been operating for almost two years with about four shops, a supermarket, a vehicle workshop and an ATM.

-Avuyile Mngxitama-Diko